A Q&A with our Founder, Robin Ducharme
What inspired you to start Real Love Ready?
I knew I wanted to be in the business of love the first time I played matchmaker for my best friend who’d relocated to my hometown. I’ve always believed that loving partnerships have the power to enrich our lives beyond measure and make the world a better place, and once I had the honour of being a part of my friend’s personal relationship journey, there was a persistent tug on my heart that told me this was my purpose.
After getting certified as a Professional Matchmaker and working as a Love Coach for years, I realized that my true passion is empowering others to take their love lives into their own hands. I want to inspire others to be accountable for their relationships, put themselves out there, and get more intentional about designing the loving partnership they want.
Why do you think we need to change the conversation on love?
Like so many others, I’m tired of outdated relationship tropes and soulmate quests. I can’t understand why ended relationships are automatically labeled failed relationships or why more people aren’t talking about what it’s like to date with kids and find love after divorce. I see the potential for people to preserve their individuality and autonomy while still finding comfort and strength in one another. For me, relationships aren’t a gap-filler, but an opportunity to share our life experiences with a partner.
With Real Love Ready, I wanted to create a place where people could start having more honest conversations about this stuff. The more complicated dating and relationships get, the more important it is for us to get access to practical guidance and community support.
What are the most important relationship lessons you’ve learned?
I met my first husband on a backpacking trip and we built a beautiful life together. Even though our marriage ended, our love didn’t. Today, we co-parent our children and have an open-hearted friendship that echoes the bond we’ve always shared. When I look back on that relationship, I don’t see failure. I see a safe space where I was allowed to explore who I was. I see a mirror that someone else held up to reflect back to me where I could grow. I see countless memories of joy that still hold their vibrance, even to this day.
After meeting my current partner online and consciously creating a new life together with him, I’ve learned an important lesson: finding and deepening love is never a linear journey. Love is always evolving. It’s complicated and nuanced, defying definition. It can strike more than once and it never looks the same twice. Turns out, that’s the most exciting part!
How does Real Love Ready offer an actionable path to finding and deepening love?
Our events are curated experiences that blend education with entertainment, offering audiences inspiration and practical guidance for navigating the growing complexities of dating and relationships. They provide unique access to global relationship experts and pair this with hands-on breakout learning.
Whether you’re co-parenting with an ex you respect, entering the online dating scene for the first time in midlife, or trying to design your relationships with more intention so you don’t repeat past mistakes, we go there! Our community is here to help you love yourself and others better, regardless of your “relationship status”.
What do you love most about your new role as Founder & CEO of Real Love Ready?
Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, I was naturally drawn to careers in business. I’ve had the honour of managing teams, acting as a director for my father’s company, and organizing many large events over the years. I’ve worked in industries ranging from real estate to composites manufacturing and medical device sales, but now I get to use my business brains to carry out a vision and mission that I’m truly passionate about - LOVE!
What’s next for Real Love Ready?
Sharing authentic love stories in our weekly #RealLifeRealLove social media feature to inspire our community! We’re also hosting our first Real Love Ready Summit in Vancouver, BC at the Fairmont Waterfront on April 18, 2020, and we couldn’t be more excited about our speaker lineup.